An Amerikajin in Toyotashi, Part San

Day 3,4

Apparently dining in Japan is a lot like being a contestant on "Fear Factor." I've eaten sparrow. I've eaten what may or may not have been living squid. I've eaten Yuba with sea urchin sauce and salmon roe (ovaries). Delicious, all of them.

I would be the worst "fear factor" contestant ever.

Cars in Japan are quite different. They have two categories: one for normal cars, one for really tiny "kei" cars. The Kei cars are small, powered by engines of less than 1 Litre displacement, and don't even come close to meeting any safety standards. I want one.

Working with a considerable language barrier is somewhat difficult; my new favorite word is "wakarimasen" (I don't understand). I have a Japanese phrase book... Unfortunately, there are surprisingly few phrases related to making bumpers in that book.

Day, um... I'm finishing this a good 3 weeks since returning from Japan... Overall, the trip was good... minus the being stuck in detroit for 8 hours. I hate you, Delta.

Didn't find a Jinglish t-shirt for Leigh... guess that means I'll have to go back.

Oh... important lesson learned: Never drink with Australians--in ANY country.

An Amerikajin in Toyotashi, Volume II

21:49 June 16.

Woke up early today to lound, unfamilar sounds. Might have been a godzilla attack. CNN International reported none.

Met a frenchman today. Thought about conversing in french, but decided the odds of our conversation dipping into "Ou est la biblioteque" were slim at best.

Worked all day. Motomachi plant is huge. The doors are all very polite--they greet you with a delightful female voice.

Bumpers did not go well. I demanded we try again tomorrow. It is hard to not look like an asshole when you are making request in a foreign language.

Ate at what I'm sure is the number one foreign bar in all of Toyota City. Kevin's is owned by a husband and wife team... they are delightful. I ate the sparrow and the squid. Kevin suggested I man not, in fact, be american. He suggested I was an alien instead. He might be right.

Sparrow tasted crunchy and adorable. I hope it was the same bird that followed me around CVG and DTW. take THAT, bird.

Japanese beer is surprisingly potent... and delicious. I think I'm going to bed.

sayonara.

An Amerikajin in Toyotashi, day 1

It's 21:12 (9:12 PM), Monday, 15 June, 2009.

Arrived yesterday evening. 13 hour flight was... ok. I think my seat was made of plywood. Chose not to watch the movies ("He's Just Not That Into You" and "Hotel for Dogs"). Watched "Juno" on my iPod--great movie. Managed to get from Airport to Hotel without causing international incident. Good Job.

Hotel is very nice. Room is tiny, but with good view of the sprawling Toyota City below. I think room may be a robot. Bathroom is nice. Toilet is a another robot. Small control panel on side of toilet controls heated seat, "bidet", "spray", and water pressure. There is a warning sticker on my mirror... It is written in Kanji, so I cannot read. I assume it says "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."

Shower head is level with my nose. Also, I have two bottles of ambiguous hair care product: Hair Tonic and Hair Liquid. One is blue, one is green.

Hotel has beer vending machine. I will use this.

Had a "free" day today, spent mostly reviewing paperwork and talking online to new friend Amanda. Watched CNN International, decided all news anchors should have english accents. Had a sandwich for breakfast--I think it was 80% mayonaise. Delicious.

Went for a walk/food hunt around noon. Tall, white, hairy guy with sunglasses blends right in... Bought some pens (co-worker said Japan has neat pens). Ate something with noodles and what may be pork. Delicious. Stopped by convenience store--much creepy Japanese porn on display. Very convenient. Bought some "Black Black" chewing gum with "Hi-Technical Excellent Taste and Flavor." Tastes like a mint fist punching you in the face, followed by a soothing herbal flavor. "Hi-Technical," indeed. Robot status of chewing gum pending judgement.

Found a Japanese toy story--I will go there. Goodbye money.

Took an epic nap. It was nice.

Tomorrow is first day of bumper trials. The excitement will never end.

Weather says high of 26 deg C with 60% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. 30% chance of Mothra attack.

Best news headline ever.

CNN reporting:

2 dead, 1 missing after Slim Jim plant blast.

-This is why I don't eat slim jims.

I give a completely professional, unbiased review of the new Palm Pre smartphone.

OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN THIS IS SOOOO AWESOME. LOOK HOW COOL IT IS IT'S ALL BLACK AND SHINY AND FITS IN THE PLAM OF MY HAND PLUS IT MULTITASKS AND HAS GPS AND WI FI AND COMBINES ALL OF MY CONTACTS FROM GOOGLE, FACEBOOK, ETC. SUPER AWESOME YEAH WOOHOO AWESOME. SUCK IT IPHONE.

Things my cat will eat, in order of preference.

Things my cat will eat (in order of preference).

1. Plastic bags

2. Plastic, other

3. Houseplants

4. Toilet paper rolls, full

5. My MacBook*

6. My calves, when I first wake up (the earlier, the better)

7. Important bills/tax documents

8. Toilet paper rolls, bare

9. Paper, miscellaneous

10. Rice flakes cereal

11. Bugs, spiders, spiderwebs**

12. Cardboard boxes

13. Miniature Transformers action figures

14. That overpriced pet grass that supposedly will keep cats from eating houseplants

15. Anything I'm eating

16. Cat food

*Includes MacBook magnetic power cord.

**Unless I actually want him to eat a spider.

Some Lima, OH related plot ideas for the new FOX musical comedy "Glee."

Wednesday night, Fox aired the pilot episode of a new musical comedy (which won't actually air again until the fall. Clearly, Fox is thinking). The new show, entitled "Glee," chronicles the "glee club" at a high school set in the fictional city of Lima, OH. (Or is it a fictional highschool set in the real city of Lima, OH? I didn't actually watch the show.)

As a former fictional resident of that fictional city, it is my civic duty to suggest some plot ideas that will tie the show to the rich heritage that is Lima.

Episode 101: Beans.

Faced with a dwindling economy, declining population, increased crime, failing schools, and crumbling infrastructure, the Glee club must search for a way to revitalize itself. The club considers a number of potential options, before finally settling on one clear winner: choosing a mascot. "Clearly, a mascot is what this club is missing. It will solve all our problems."

The mascot is a giant bean, who may or may not be stoned. Beanie.

Episode 112: No, seriously guys, everyone will get this.

The Glee club sings at Square Fair while eating Kewpees outside of Memorial Hall before taking a dip in the Schoonover Park pool. After that, the gang grabs some Joey's subs, then splits up. Some get caught snooping around the abandoned TB hospital. Others hang out near the refinery for no apparent reason. Someone gets pregnant.

The next day, the show is cancelled for airing an entire episode about things no one outside of Lima would care about.

Episode 104: The new guy.

Ratings falling, the shows producers bring on a new character: an extremely attractive, intelligent, and funny cellist/actor. He is incredibly awesome and obviously saves the Glee club with is immeasurable talents. Also, he is rich and has a lot of sex with hot girls. In the future, we seem in win an Academy Award, Nobel Peace Prize, and a Grammy (just for the hell of it). He saves the world and makes (even more) money by inventing a car that runs on sarcasm.

Also, he hangs out a lot with Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Tina Fey. Oh, and there's lots of sex.

I'll take my royalty checks any day now.

Thanks.